Has anyone actually recovered from post concussion syndrome, I've looked through this site but can not see any comments from anyone that has sent in a post saying 'im well and back to normal'
Would be lovely to see this and give me hope.. :0)
Regards
Louise
I have been on here for sometime and I am not aware of anyone who has PCS. Most of us have bi caused by traumatic injury, haemorrhage, infection etc. So our bi's, although do improve but we have ongoing problems.
PCS can abate but to be honest there are so many people with brain injury it can be difficult to access the services that can help recovery.
I had a mild TBI but have moderate effects from it. I still struggle with my vision and memory and time. My organisational skill improved but they are still considered difficient. I struggle with distraction and staying on task but it improved immensely from when I came home and couldn't make a brew. I still have word finding problems but it's more likely when I'm fatigued or Ill.
I managed to get back to work after 8 years. 5 hours a week to begin with and increased over time to 25-28 hours a week, it feels very much to me like a 40 hour week used to feel. I support children age 4-6 in school, although I work with all pupils till they leave for high school. Not quite the same intensity as working in Air Traffic Control but actually feels so much more difficult.
I can't say I fully recovered but I did get a second chance and I am so very lucky that I can function to the level I do. I was also very lucky to get injured when I did as there was less pressure and more money in the NHS support services. I was able to get benefits without all the hassle people have now too.
My life as I knew it completely changed and the effects on the family were huge but we came thru. My two eldest are now at uni and my youngest in his first exam year. My relationship has massive dips due to my fixed attitude and bluntness. There are times I want to chuck it in and go it alone but I actually wouldn't know how! My poor suffering feller has had to handle so much over the years and my daughter says its like two people living in the same house but living completely different lives, but we still muddle through.
Brain injury is such a complicated thing to deal with, it throws so many curve balls.
I actually just looked at my reports, I was classed as MTBI (mild) initially and reclassified as moderate TBI within first few days. Not sure why, something to do with GCS. I got a diffuse axonal injury which was explained as looking at wiring used in the house, if it gets pulled or twisted or stretched on the outside there is nothing much to see but if you cut open the coating the thin wire which passes the electricity is broken.
Anyway, just thought it would be positive to see life can get better even if it's different
Sorry to hear you are sturggling Louise. Thanks for your post, PCS really just seems to be a catch all term for the after effects of a bang on the head. As most people on this group will attest things do improve slowly but rarely get back to 'normal' after a brain injury even 'mild' bi can have very long lasting effects. Interestingly the NHS site nhs.uk/Conditions/Concussio... says that only 1 in 10 people have PCS after a year but the list of symptoms it gives are classic effects of BI which we know often last for a very long time. I suspect then that PCS is a name given to set of symptoms seen when there is not physical evidence of brain injury. My advice (easier to give than to follow sometimes) has always been try and learn to live with the new you rather than trying to recapture the old you. Good luck. James
Thanks James I've seen this too and some articles even say symptoms get better after 3 months. My main symtom is the headaches, dizziness seems to be getting better and the tinnitus is off and on..
I just wake up every morning feeling like I've got the worst hangover ever! I've not had a drink since I've hit my head either! I will be glad when I wake up with a clear head..
Regards
Louise
Hi Louise.
This sounds very similar to what I have experienced. I hit my head while working over Easter weekend of this year. I had no immediate signs of concussion, other than the headaches and a bit of tiredness. I also later saw a doctor for the pain I was getting in my neck, that I was told was whiplash.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, my recovery was hampered by picking up a flu virus at work that put me out of action for 2 weeks, but various doctors... the ones I saw while I was away and got whacked with this massive flu virus, and the lovely lady on the Headway helpline suggested that I might have post concussion syndrome. I asked my own GP about it and he wouldn't admit that it even existed (I've since changed my GP for various reasons...) but I fit a lot of the symptoms.
I do feel that I am steadily getting better. The main things I have trouble with are my short term memory and being able to focus. I particularly notice that I can't read while my partner has the TV on in the same room. I also get a little bit of anxiety and this has the effect of making my already problematic neck muscles tense up, which gives me a cracking headache!
I can't predict at the moment if I will ever be back to "normal". I think my problem is that I have both the effects of the concussion to deal with alongside almost certainly having post viral fatigue.
PCS….
was fired over my tbi/pcs.
PCS a year on from injury...
